Conveyer



Dec. 13, 1927. 1,652,419

H. M. sHlELDs coNvEYER Original Filed July '7Y 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2Dec. 13, 1927. 1,652,419

H. M. SHIELDS CONVEYER Original Filed July 7, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 lPatented Dec. V13, 1.92?.

1res/1211s',GrsM. sHIKEIins, or Los ANGELES, oamiroanra i originalapplication mea July 7, 1925, Aserieu, No. 42,026. vDivided and thisappncanon mednovembe e,

i 1,9125. Serial 310.4'5475739.-u l i j My invention has -to do with.conveyers, Q

and is a true divisionvof my application entitled Method of andapparatus for peeling fruit, Serial No. 42,026, filed July .7, 1925.

Conveyers are of different types, some conveying objects from one placeto another for the purpose of transportation,` and others conveying'objects While some operation fis performed thereon. `lt is toA this lastmeir tioned type of conveyer that this invention relates. Y

Itisanobj ect of this invention to provide a conveyer Which Will rotateand feed an object, Y j y j Y Itis. another object of kthis invention toprovide a ,conveyeroffthis Character Which rotates an .feeds the kobject solely lby. engaging `the surface of .the object.

.It isalso an object yof'jthis invention to provide -a conveyer. havingarplurality of rollers arranged'torrotateand `feed an object.

.It is further object of this inventionto provide 'a conveyer 'of thecharacter men-1 jtioned, in which the rollers are adj ust-able so asteaccommodate 'different :sizes of objects.

It is a still further objejotjof the invention to ,provide acOnVeyerofthe characterinentioned vin which the rollersare adjustahlesoas to feed the objects at different speeds.

It is another object of :this invention to vide a conveyerhaving;a'plurality of rollers arranged to provide a path therebetweenalong which lan object'may be fed. The

axes of the rollers aretwisted into non-pau allelisin with respect tothe axis ofthe pat-h Pand, .by .virtue offthis, rotate and feed theobject ,along the path.

Other objects and advantages of the in#` ventio'n will `be made. evidenthereinafter.

, substantially 'as Referring to the three sheets .of ldrawings VinWhich I illustrate afpr'eferred embodiment Fig. 3 4is anend view takenas indicated -by the arrow: 3 of AFig. l.

Fid. L is a fra mentar section talen'ionA b `Fig. 5 is a seetionltakenonthe line y5-.5 ofFigQl. f y i .Fign ris an enlarged fragmentary sectiotalrenatthe exhaust.endoftheinvention.

.Fig Tis an enlarged fragmentaryseetion takenas indicated-by the'line7-7 offF-ig. 6.

Fig. vvS is a diagram illustrating ,the princi ple of operationofvmyinvention. l

'In ithe drawings the numeral lldenotes an end plate at the feed end ofmy apparatus, andthe numeral 12 denotes anend plate at ltheexhaustV endof my apparatus.I The end plates l1,1 and 12 are'seCured togetherbytige-loars.r 14- Which are attaehed'toitheend plates 11 and 12. byinner andouternuts l5 and'l; The end platesll andv12 have legs 17secured thereto by cap scews 18, or-the like, whereby theya-resupported.

As'shown best in Figs. y2 and 4 the feed end plate 11 is provided with acylindrical opening-2 0. ,Placed'inthe cylindrical. opening 2 0 is -acylindrical feed `adjustment vplate 21. lThe feed adjustment plate 21has an annular-.flange22fvvhich rests in an annular recess 23 ,which`surrounds the cylindri-l cal opening of the feed end plate .f1-1. Thefeed adjustment .plat-e 21 is retained/in .theoylindrical vopenin-g`20andthe flange 22 Vis retained in the recess 23Qby discs 25. The uppertwojdises-j25 areheld in place bytheknuts V16*7 Whereas lower disc25issecured -in Aplace by a cap Soren/'27 which threads into the feed endplate 11. Thehdiscs y25 merely prevent ythe feed adjustment plate 21from being1 removed.from-place,-but per- 'mit a 'rotation thereof.

Y An" arcuated .racl\:28 'is secured to the upper'portion of the saidadjustment plate 21 lay-screws 29 .ufhjicliV extend through lugs SOofthe'racl. This rack 28 is engaged-by a Worm 32 VWhichjis secured toashaft 33, whichv sha-ft 33 is rotatably supported inY bearingsl-.carried by the said end plate 11.L Y

VYThe extending en dof the shaftSS is provided with aknurled head sothat'it may" be conveniently manually operated.' ,',The

' 4feed ,adjustment plate 21 may be adjusted f `into theY desiredposition, as Will;be'described later,Y by rotating'the. Worm gages therack 28. J Y

' Thebfeed adjustment plate 21 is provided With a centra-ll cylindricalopening 38 which is' jsurrounded, by an annularl recess 39,1this'annular' recess 39 'being formedfin the -out- ,32 Vwhich en- Carried inthe annular recess 39 is a size adjustment plate 41 which has acylindri- :al opening 42 which is slightly larger than the opening 3S.The size adjustment plate is ot such a thickness that it iills therecess 39 and no more.` As shown clearly in Fig. 4- the plate 41 isretained in place by a plie rality of winged nuts 43 which are advancedonto screws 14.- which extend throiigh the feed adjustment plate 21. henthese winged nuts L13 are tightened the size adjustment plate l1 islocked against movement relative to the feed adjustment plate 2l. Anoperating bar`45 extends outward from the size adjustment plate Lilwhereby the plate 4l, majY be rotated into the desired position, as willhe described later, when the winged nuts i3 are loosened.

Re'ierri n g to Figs. 3. (i and T in particularg the exhaust end plate12 has a central cylindrical opening 5() which is surrounded by spaced iequidistantly an annular recess 51 formed in the outward part ot theexhaust end plate 1Q. The ejf'lindrical opening 50 and the annularrecess 51 correspond to the opening 38 and the annular recess 39 of ythefeed adjustment plate 21.

Resting in the annular recess 5l is a size adjustment plate 52 whichcompletely 'fills the annular recess 5l and no more. This sizeiuljustment plate 52 corresponds to the size adjustment plate 41,. Thisplate is retained in the annular recess 51 b v winged nuts 5-1 which areadvanced on screws 55 which extend through the exhaust end plate 12.Then the winged nuts 5st are tightened on the screws 55,` the sizeadjustment plate 52 locked against rotation :in the same manner as isthe size adjustment plate 51. An arm 57 extends from the size adjustmentplate 52 (Fig. 3) for the purpose of rotating the. plate 52 when thewinged nuts 54 are loosened.

Reterring to Figs. 2 and t in particular the teed adjustment plate 2l isprovided with three radially extending slots (SO, which are spacedequidistantly apart in concentrie arrangement around the center ot theplate 2l, as shown in Fig. f2. The exhaust end ot plate 12 is likewiseprovided with three equally spaced radial slots (il having posh tionswhich correspond to the j iositions ot the radial slots (Si). The sizeadjustment plate ill is provided with three Spiral slots (Si which arespaced equidistantlyY and conceutrieally around the center ot the plate11 as illustrati-ail in Fi g. Q. These spiral slots (ist are termed oncenters which are eecelr tric of the center oi the plate Ll1aiultherctore occupy the positions as shown .in Fig. 2. The sizeadjustment plate 52 is likewise providedwith three spiral slotsGwhichare and concentrieally around the center of the plate These spiralslots G5 occupy positions which correspond to the positions ol' theslots 54 and are oli corresponding shapes.

Extending through the slots and 61 at the iteed end of my invention arehearing 'my invention are hearing blocks TO having straight parallellaces .71 which engage the sides ot the radial slot (Si and curved:tacos 72 which engage the sides oit the spiral slots (i5. I

Extending through the bearing hloels GG are trunuions Tiwhich extendv:trom the tet-d end et rollers 75. ltlxtcuding through the bearingbloeli's T() are trunnionso which extend 'trom the exhaust ends ot the.rollers 75. The hearing hlocls ((3 and Til, therefore, rotatablysupport the rollers T5, whichare three in number. i

Ae shown clearly in Figs. 1, and partieularljv Fig-(3` the trunuious 7Gare much longer than the trunnions T-l and extend outwardly through thehearing blocks quite a distance. The extending ends ot these trunnions76 have extension rollers 7S secured thereto. The extension rollers 78are split, consisting of halves 79 which are seemed around the sha't'tby bolts d0. `The heads and nuts ot the bolts Si) rest in cavities Siformed in the halves 79. The extension rollers TS are also divided intoinner and outer parts 83 and 81.1: between which sprockets are securedby means oit screws Si'. The inner parts S3 ot the extension rollers 78have central cavities S8 into which the vouter parts ot the bearinglblocks 70 may extend.`

The. three rollers T5 are drivei'ibjT means ot a chain heit whichextends around and ei'igages the sprockets `This is clearly shown inFig.` 3. The chain belt 90 extends over a sprocket fil which is securedon a shaft 92. This shaitft, 92, as shown in Fig. 1,

rotatably supported in a bearing Uil. supported h v one oi the legs 'i7and which may he driven by a pulley 95. j

The tension in the chainhelt il() controlled bj' a1 roller il? which`isrotatablycarried on an arm ot a bell crank 0S. this hell crank 9Sheilig pivoted at llt). `ltlxtending from the lower arm lll() ot thehell crank 9S is a. lever 10i having notches 1th! pro vided therein. pinfltlz extends trom one of the legs 17 und is adaptedto rest in one oitthe notches 102. The lever ltll may he operated by a handle lili so thatthe roller 9T is torced against the chain belt 2)() to a properpressure, the level' 101 `heilig held in` proper position by theengagement of the pin 103 in one of the notches 102.

In the operation oi my invention the rollers 75 are `first radiallyadjusted so that the innerniost portions thereof `define a circle` lift)whichfisy of proper size to'v accommodate .the v objectV which ris to befedftherethiiough.

yThis adjustment is Vaccomplished .fi'rstjby disengagin'g the rollery 97front the chain.

belt as to reduce the tensionthereof,

that: the size adjustment. plates 41- and52 may rotate relativelyto thefeed adjustment plate 21 and the exhaust eno plate .12. rllhe sizeadjustmentrplate l1 is thenrotated'by engaging the bar 451;' l/VhentliisplateV is rotated, different portions of the spiral slots G4: arebrought into adjacenoy with' thel blocks G6, and the blocks aretherefore iiioved. inwardly or outwardly according. to the directioninfivhichthe size'adjustment plate 4:1 is rotated. The size adjustmentplate l1, however, is moved into suoli position lthat the feed end oftherollers 'T51/'ill be properly spaced to receive an object, suchobject being indicated at110 in Fig. 5. The winged nuts 413 arethentightened and-.the size adjustment plate 52 .is rotated to properposition by means ofLthe arm 57. Such a rotation will bring differentportions ofthe 4spiral slot (35 into'V adjacencywith the bearing bloclrs7.0' 'and thusmove them radially` innf'ardly or outwardly asidesired.The size radjustment. plate 52 is moved into such a position that theexhaust-.ends of therollers 75 are positioned to accommodatethe object110, after `which the winged nuts .541 are n tightened so as to lock theplate. 52 against rotation. The roller 97 is then ,again brought intoengagement with. they cham y belt 90 and a..proper. tensionjis appliedrthereto. I

The next operation-in settingthe machine is to .adjust the rollersintofproper feedingV position. rlhe principle of feeding of the rollers75 is clearly shown in FigyS. The rollers 75 are spaced in confiningrelationship around a space along which 'the objects are to be fed. lnFig. 8 the line AHArrepref sents the center line of the space or thecenter line of the path along which the objects are fed. It should benoted thatthe rollers '.75 are so placed as to forni a.Y confined pathor, in other words, a definite path along which the object is moved. Therollers 7 5 are set so that the axes B-B thereof are at L ltr-Al of thepath of the object 110. Dotted lines 112 represent the object 110, anddotted lines 113 represent the portion of therv object which is inengagement with the top roller 7 5 at any time. A point on the object110A therefore lcomes,y into contact with lal pointon the toprollerat115 asvindicated in Fig. 8. This point-115 travels along-ir pathindicated by a 'dotted line 116, which linell is at right angles to theanis of rotation` B-B'of the roller in. discussion. The point on theobject, therefore, travels iii con-l tact with thefpoint on the rolleruntil `it reaches a point 117 where it disengages the roller. `Intraveling from the pointf115- to the' point 117, the point'on the objectis carriedz forward with respect to the axis A-A a distance indicated atC.. As the rollers r0- tate, an object is rotated with the rollers andgraduallycarried forward orV fed from the feed end of the rollers totheexhaust ends thereof. The feeding action of the rollers 75 resultsentirely from the twisting of the axes B-B of the rollers from thecenter line 114A of the path of the objects.

'lhevtwisting ofthe rollers 75 from parallelism with the center' lineA-A is accomplished by rotating` the feed adjustment plate 21. The feedadjustment plate 21 is rotated by operating the lrnurled head 36 of theshaft 33,' which results ina rotation of' the worm 32'. rThe worin 32 byvirtue of its engagement with therack 28 rotates the feed adjustmentplate 21. It is evident that ther feed ends of the rollers 75 are moved`circumferentially, whereas the exhaust ends of the rollers remainstationary.A The feed adjustment plate 21 maybe rotated in eithervdirect-ion` so that, if desired, the objects may ber-.fed in a reversedirection through the apparatus. Y Y

*l VThe objects, ask indicated at1110 inig. 5, are then'placed betweenthe rollers 7 5,`acccss being. had `thereto through the openings 38 and4t2-in the1platesf21 and/i1. These objects inay bev fedby hand orf theymay be fed by suitable conveyingy means. It is desirable to taper theforward ends of the rollers 75 as indicated at 120 so that the objects110 will be easily received by the rollers. The rollers 75, of course,have been set into rotation previously to the introduction of anyobjects therebetween. j These objects are fed according to the principledescribed in connection with Fig. 8 and pass between the rollers 75through to theexhaust end of the coiiveyer. f

rlie extension rollers 7 8 are provided for- Vcarrying the objects tothe exterior of the lexhaust end plate 12 so that they maybeconveniently taken directly from the conveyer or pass through anotherapparatus.

My invention may be utilized in various arts and the" principal featureof it is that an object may be conveyed without pene-- trating it in anymanner. Not only is the object conveyed but it is also rotated. My

yYconveyer may be used in the washing and 'polishing of various fruits,such as oranges,

lemons, apples, etc., or it may be used to p will not be.l bruised.

reniore the oil or peel :troni oranges, lemons, etc. loine specilieresent my invention are shown in my application entitled Method andamiaratus :tor peelingr Strait, Serial No. 42,026, liled .lilly 7, 1925,and in my appli cation entitled ivlvethod ot and apparatus torrecovering the valuable eonstitnents lironi trait, terial No. (M1302,.tiled (.letober Qat, 1025. ln the lirst ease the eonreyer isused iiorconrev n; oranges while the peeling` is heine' reinm'ed therefrom, andin the second case is employed 'l'or conveying` oranges while the oil isbeingr released :troni the peeling l hereof. i

ln the. drawings l'. have shown the rollers as solid and haring' smoothsurlzn'es. lt should. he understood. however, that l may provide one olthe rollers or all ot them with rarions surfaces to accommodate the useto whieh theyY are to be pnt. For in stance, in handling;- eertain"lrnits such as apples, it may be desirable to provide the rollersl withrc .lient tacos so that the fruit also, it may he desirable lo run oneof the rollers slower tha the others so that a trietion and polishing,`action will be obtained. This `eonld be readily aeeoniplislied byproviding one o't the, sprockets S5 slightly larger than the others.

l claim as my invention:

1. A conveyor consistiai;` ot: A pluralityT et rollers supported inconfining1 relationship so as to torni a contined path, one ot saidrollers being positioned so that the axis thereol2 is non-parallel withthe axis ot said path; and means for operatimoT said rollers.

il. A. converer consisting' ot: A plurality oit rollers supported inconlining relationship so as to 'lform a confined path and beingpositioned so that their axes are non-parallel ing: Three rollersdisposed around said path` and twisted 1n the saine direction Atronopara allelism with said path, said rollers being rotated `in the sainedirection.

5. In a conveyor ot the class described: A 'trame harina* spaced endmembers; a pluralil)Y ol` rollers rotatably jonrnaled between said endmembers and disposed .in confining relation about a central space; andmeans tor circoin'lerentially shitting,l the roller journais in an endmember to cause said rollers to assume positions twisted fromparallelism with the axis of the aforesaid central space and means forrotating said rollers in the saine direction. ti. ln a conveyor of theclass described: A phirality ot rollers rotatably journaled and disposedin eonliningr relation about a path in. space, the axes ot said rollersbeing de# llected from parallelism with the axis of said path; and meansttor rotating said rollers.

7. A conveyer consisting,r of: A plurality ot rollers eircularlyarranged to forni. a path; means for varying the radial positions otsaid rollers; and means for operating said rollers. f S. A combinationas delined in claim 3 which one end of each roller is tapered.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles,California, this 3rd day of November', 1925.

HASTINGS M. SHIELDS.

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